Stock-rack



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

. A. SEEBERGER.

sToox RACK. No. 499,757. Patented June 20,1893.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' A. SEEBERGER.

STOCK RACK. No. 499,757. Patented June 20, 1893.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AUGUST SEEBERGER, OF FULTON, IOWA.

' STOCK-RAG K.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,757, dated une 20 1893. I

Application filed January 31, 1893- Serial No. 460,306. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, AUGUST SEEBERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fulton, in the county of Jackson and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Stock- Rack, of which the following is a specification. a

My invention relates to improvements in racks adapted to be employed in wagons; the objects in view being to provide a convenient rack of cheap and simple construction, and especially adapted for use by farmers, poultry and stock raisers, and others who are in the habit of carrying to market or other points small stock, such as sheep, calves, chickens and other fowls; to so construct the rack as to adapt the same to conveniently divide the different kinds of stock from each other, and to be collapsible when said stock have been removed from the rack, thus enabling the farmer or other person to utilizeat least'a portion of the wagon for other purposes.

\Vith these objects'in view the invention consists in certain features of construction hereinafter specified and particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings:Figure 1 is a perspective View of a rack constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being mounted in a wagon-body. Fig. 2. is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the same. Figs. 8 and 4 are details in plan of the two removable covers or partitions.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In constructing the main body of the rack I form opposite side-sections, and each sidesection consists of opposite end posts 1, and a series of connecting parallel bars 2, the same being spaced apart the distance of their widths. To the exterior surfaces of these bars 2, opposite the front posts 1, cleats 3 are secured. Between the bars2 is slid a series of extension-bars 4, the same having their rear ends connected by means of an external cleat 5, and being passed between the cleats 3 and posts 1. The front ends of these bars 4: overlap and are secured to the front extension-posts 6 and interlock at their ends with front transverse bars 7 which are secured to the front edges of the extension-posts 6. Between the front pair of bars 1 is located a partition, and the same consists of opposite posts 8 and intermediate connecting-bars 9;

- The posts 8 are near their middles and upper ends provided with pairs of perforations 10, and through the same pass locking-rods 11, whose outer ends at one side terminate in suitable handle-eyes 12, by which such rods may be grasped and withdrawn when desired. Between the rear pair of posts 1 is located an end gate-section, and the same consists of opposite end posts 14 connected by transverse bars 15. The posts 14; and their adjacent posts 1 are provided with aligning perforations at their middles and near their upper ends, and through these perforations extend locking-rods 16, terminating at oneof their ends in handle-eyes 17 by which they may be grasped and operated. The device as thus constructed is seated in a wagon-body 18, the same being of ordinary construction and agreeing in width with the rack. It will be seen that bydrawing the front extension of the rack out to its full extentit will completely occupy said body and that the said rack will be divided into front and rear compartments through the medium of the front partition; and on the other hand, by closing or pushing to the rear the extension of the rack, the same will occupy but one half of the space it would when extended. Through the medium of the locking-rods it will be seen that a withdrawal of the lower rod will serve to permit of a swinging upward of the endgate and also of the front partition, so that small stock which it is desired to transport may be driven into the rack. As soon as a sufficient number of stock has thus been driven in to fill the front compartment, thefront partition is swung down toavertical position, thus confining the stockin said compartment, and through the medium of the lower lockingrod the said partition is locked in position and the stock is'prevented from entering into the rear compartment. A continued driving of the stock then serves to fill the rear compartment, after which the end-gate may be swung to its vertical position and locked.

' In Fig. 3 I have illustrated two imperforate partitions or covers 20, and these may be placed over the two compartments; and in order to adapt the same to snugly fit between the posts of the rack, their corners are proill vided with notches 21. Again,i-f desired, the front compartment may be employed for one kind of stock, after which the rear compartment may be divided by inserting one of the partitions between some of the intermediate bars of said rear compartment, and thus forming an upper and a lower compartment, the upper compartment being covered by the remaining partition or cover, (all as clearly shown in Fig.2 of the drawings,) and thus small stock may be divided from each other.

When stock has been transported and the,

Wagon is returning, as, for instance when, a farmer has driven to market and disposed of his stock and is returning home, the covers may be removed and laid upon the floor of the wagon and the extension slid backward so that the entire rack occupies but half of its original space, and thus the farmer may utilize his wagon for the purpose of carrying provisions and other things home.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen thatI have provided a very cheap and simple construction of stock-rack, especially adapted for farm-wagons, wherein stock may be transported or even vegetables .and other products of the soil, which rack is adapted to separate the several species from each other, and to conveniently receive the same; and, furthermore, may be collapsed when not in use so as to occupy a minimum space.

It is to be understood that changes in the form, proportion and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination with a wagon-body, of

a rack, the same comprisingopposite side-sections, each of which consists of opposite end posts and intermediate connecting-bars, a rear removable end-gate, a front partition located between the front posts, and a slidingsection comprising posts and horizontal bars, the latter being located between the bars of the side-sections and adapted to slide therein, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a wagon-body, of

the stock-rack, the same comprising a rear section having an end-gate and a front sliding' section adapted to form an extension thereof or be telescoped therein, substantially as specified. Y 3. The combination with a wagon-body, of the opposite side-sections comprising endposts 1 and parallel connecting-bars 2, the front partition comprising opposite end posts 8 and cross-bars 9, the rear end-gate comprising end posts 14 and crossbars 15, the perforations formed in the end-posts of the sides, the partition, and the end-gate, locking-pins passed through the perforations and provided at their outer ends with handles, the posts 6 located in front of the posts 1, the bars 4 extending rearwardly from the posts 6 and taking between the bars 2, the cleats 5 connecting the bars 4 in rear of the front posts 1, the cleats 3 connecting the bars 2 opposite the front posts 1, and the front transverse-bars 7 connecting the posts 6, substantially as specifled.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST SEEBERGER.

Witnesses:

H. O. ELKIN, J ACOB FRANK. 

